Portrait of a Lady
On request
Frederic Malle Promise
Dark rose, pepper and the illusion of oud
Promise is the second volume of the house's Desert Gems collection, a tribute to Middle Eastern perfumery composed by a Western perfumer, Dominique Ropion, in 2017. He recreates the allure of oud as an illusion, with cypriol and Turkish and Bulgarian rose. The brand frames it as a celebration of the strongest bonds between two people and the sacredness of one's word.
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The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all...
The composition
How it unfolds in notes
The curve shows the order in which the notes come forward, not their strength.
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Top notes
- Pink pepper
- Rosemary oil
- Apple accord
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Heart notes
- Bulgarian rose oil
- Turkish rose absolute
- Clove oil
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Base notes
- Patchouli heart
- Ambroxan
- Labdanum
- Cypriol heart
- Character
- Strong
- Occasion
- Concentration
- Explore by note
In the same spirit
Similar in character
On the skin
How it unfolds
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Pepper, rosemary, apple
The top has three notes: pink pepper, rosemary oil and an apple accord. The pepper gives a dry spark, the rosemary a green, herbal bite and the apple a bright, slightly tart note. Together they open the scent with energy before the roses arrive.
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Two roses and clove
The heart sets Bulgarian rose oil and Turkish rose absolute side by side, with clove oil next to them. The two roses are given room, and the clove adds a warm, dry spice that keeps them from turning soft. This is where the brand's idea of strong bonds takes on weight.
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The oud illusion
The base is patchouli heart, ambroxan, labdanum and cypriol heart. There is no oud in the list: the brand says Ropion recreates the allure of oud as an olfactory illusion, using cypriol with rose. Labdanum adds resin, ambroxan a smooth, skin-warm backing and patchouli earth.
Wearing it
When, who and why
How to wear it
This is a dense, dry scent, so start with one or two sprays and let the roses and cypriol unfold. It suits cool evenings and indoor settings, and holds its own at a long dinner or a formal event. With a base of cypriol and labdanum, it needs less than a light cologne.
Who it is for
For people who enjoy rose with a dark, resinous background and like the idea of oud without a literal oud note. It suits those who respond to scents with a story attached and want something with formality for evenings and special occasions. The house shows it on its women's pages and its men's pages alike, so no one audience owns it.
Why choose Frederic Malle Promise
Promise belongs to Desert Gems, a series of four that the house had Western perfumers compose as a tribute to Middle Eastern perfumery. Its sand-coloured carton with Arabic script sets it apart from the red cartons of the main range. The perfume itself is a composition of rose, pepper and cypriol with a clear idea of its own.
At a glance
- House
- Frederic Malle
- Perfumer
- Dominique Ropion
- Year
- 2017
- Size
- 50 ml
- Family
- Woody floral
- For
- Unisex
Questions
Frequently asked
Which concentration and size is it?
Concentration: Eau de Parfum. Size: 50 ml. A base of labdanum, cypriol and patchouli lets that concentration show as warmth and body.
Does Promise contain oud?
No oud note is listed. The brand says Dominique Ropion recreates the allure of oud as an olfactory illusion, building it from cypriol together with Turkish and Bulgarian rose.
Is it a rose perfume?
Rose is central, with Bulgarian rose oil and Turkish rose absolute in the heart, but it is a dark, spiced rose: pink pepper and clove give it a dry edge, and patchouli, labdanum and cypriol anchor it.
Would it make a meaningful gift?
The brand frames it around strong bonds between two people and the sacredness of one's word, so it suits a gift with weight, as long as the recipient likes rich, resinous scents.
The house
About Frederic Malle
Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle is a Paris house founded in 2000 by Frédéric Malle, who treats perfumers as authors and prints their names on the bottle. The perfumes, from rose and tuberose to lilac and amber musk, are written with complete creative freedom.
- Founded in Paris, France, in 2000 by Frédéric Malle, launched with nine perfumes
- Perfumers are treated as authors; their names are printed on the bottle
- Complete creative freedom and as much time as they need, as the brand states
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